The company plans to claw back lost market share.
Bajaj Auto recently indicated their plans to launch six new motorcycles in the coming six months with one motorcycle launch every month. These new motorcycles would include everything from their 100 cc commuter to the hotly-anticipated 400 cc machine, the Pulsar 400 SS, that will take on the premium segment.
Bajaj Auto President (Business Development & Assurance) S Ravikumar told PTI that the 100 cc bike would be the first to hit the market, in the ongoing quarter.
With a slew of new motorcycle launches planned for the coming months, Bajaj Auto plans to regain its lost marketshare as it aims to up the same from its current 16-17 percent to 20 percent. In the April-December 2014 period, Bajaj saw a substantial slump in their domestic sales, with numbers reducing to 13,91,341 units against previous year’s 16,05,308 which is a reduction of 13.33 percent.
Currently Bajaj Auto’s sales numbers are sandwiched between the market leader Hero MotoCorp with 43,40,986 units and Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) with 13,27,862 units between the April-December 2014 period. The decline has been experienced in the Discover models while the Platina, Pulsar and KTM brands experienced healthy growth.
IAB picks the 6 likely launches Bajaj has lined up for the coming months.
1. Bajaj Pulsar 200 SS:
Based on Bajaj's new design language that was showcased with the Pulsar 400 SS, the Pulsar 200 SS has been spied many a time. It would feature the same engine that is nested in the Pulsar NS, but to a slightly different stage of tune that would compensate for the added weight of the fairing with a different power-torque curve.
2. 2015 Bajaj Platina 100:
The new 2015 Platina would be a minor upgrade from the existing model, but would get a new set of graphics. Alloy Wheels, Electric Start With Alloy Wheels and a Spoke Model would be the various variants that would be offered.
3. Bajaj Pulsar 400 SS:
The Pulsar 400 SS was introduced to the world for the first time during the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo. Featuring a radical sportbike styling, with dual-projector headlights and a LED DRL, the flagship product from Bajaj would be launched in ABS and non-ABS flavors. The motorcycle would be launched with at least three different colour schemes - Blue/White, Red/White and Yellow/White.
4. Bajaj Pulsar CS 400:
The Pulsar 400 CS would boast the same platform as the Pulsar 400 SS, sans the full-faired look. The Pulsar 400 CS would be the company's largest displacement naked bike and is expected to be launched, just like the Pulsar 400 SS, in ABS as well as non-ABS versions.
5. Bajaj Pulsar 150NS:
The entry-level Pulsar was initially expected to be launched with an updated 160 cc engine (and renamed to Pulsar 160NS) with better power and torque figures. But with photos of the bike surfacing at a recent reveal, the bike apparently will continue with the same 150 cc engine, and will get updated styling similar to the Pulsar 200 NS.
6. Bajaj Discover 100:
The Discover 100 could see a revamp for 2015 with sharper graphics and a minor facelift. The Discover 100 is targeted towards executives who are looking for a hassle-free commute between work, home and business calls with high fuel efficiency. The engine and internals are unlikely to change and would continue with its 94.3 cc, 7.7 PS single-cylinder, air-cooled engine.
